Your local councillors John Dodd, Nigel Ashton and Jo Barton. Representing Crossens, Churchtown, and parts of Marshside. Meols ward includes more than 5,000 homes from the Plough roundabout to Roe Lane/Hesketh Drive.

Background to the refuse/recycling delays

Apart from the dangerous icy weather, Sefton council couldn't collect refuse for a significant period because the places where they unload waste couldn't take any more rubbish. The council deals with collecting refuse. Vehicles go to two "tip" sites - Foul Lane, Southport and Gillmoss, Liverpool - where they unload.

All Sefton's waste is then dealt with by a private contractor, Veolia, which manages the "tips" for the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority, the body responsible for getting rid of all the waste collected in the region.

EVERYTHING WAS BACKING UP - NO MORE ROOM

The refuse is taken onwards by Veolia for burying at a landfill site near Warrington. But this was closed for some time because of the conditions. The whole operation therefore backed up. Both Foul Lane and Gillmoss couldn't store any more of the waste collected by Sefton.

Refuse vehicles were stranded in the council depots completely full of rubbish and this was a significant frustrating cause of the delay in emptying wheelie bins.

OUR ADVICE CENTRES

Lib Dem Councillors John Dodd, Nigel Ashton, Jo Barton and Daniel Lewis hold regular advice centres. We are there to meet you and discuss any Council problems you may have. No appointment necessary. Just pop in.

Crossens: We are at St John's Primary School, Rufford Road, Crossens, every second Saturday in the month (except August) between 11am and 12 noon.

Churchtown: We are at the BoxTree Kitchen for Queenscourt, 192 Cambridge Road (by the Manor Road roundabout) every fourth Thursday in the month (except December) between 10:30 am and 11:30 am.